Who is running the C6 Z06 setup?
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
Member Since: Nov 2012
Location: Honolulu Hawaii
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Who is running the C6 Z06 setup?
I'll be installing the shocks, swaybars with metal end links. I'm looking forward to the improved handling.
What were your experiences with this setup?
What were your experiences with this setup?
#2
Safety Car
#3
Administrator
Member Since: Mar 2001
Location: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
Posts: 343,002
Received 19,301 Likes
on
13,974 Posts
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-
'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Can't give you any feedback now, but one day that is the setup I will have on my car.
#5
Safety Car
#6
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Sep 2009
Location: Huntington Beach California
Posts: 1,084
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Last edited by ZEE-OH-6; 01-05-2013 at 01:04 AM.
#7
Instructor
Thread Starter
Member Since: Nov 2012
Location: Honolulu Hawaii
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks.
Bought mine for under $9,500. Already had heads, cam, intake, exhaust and several other mods. Power train and body is solid. Just had a couple things needing fixed like the SWPS and headlight gears.
I thought running the C6 Z06 shocks and swaybars on a C5 was a nice improvement. Figured more people were running that.
Here are the differences.
Corvette Sway Bar Specifications
Suspension Front (mm) Rear(mm)
C5 base 23.0 19.1
C5Z51 (97-99) 25.4 21.7
C5Z51 (00-04) 28.6 23.6
C5Z06 30.0 23.6
C6 base 25.5 17.5
C6Z51 31.0 25.4
C6Z06 31.0 28.0
Last edited by Abnmarine; 01-05-2013 at 03:08 AM.
#8
Melting Slicks
I'm running the set up you are referring too and it really made a difference in how my car drove and tracked through the corners, I also had the car aligned at the same time, if I was going to do it all over again I would stay with the same set up. For street use and spirited driving its really all you need.
#9
Team Owner
one of the best things I did on my C5
#11
Team Owner
Member Since: Dec 2010
Location: Hillsborough NC
Posts: 21,061
Received 745 Likes
on
429 Posts
NC Events Coordinator
I have the C6 Z06 shocks, but went with the C6 Z51 sway bars on my base 2001 coupe. My car had already had the metal end links installed. I didn't change anything else like wheels or tires, so any changes in handling were just due to the C6 add-ons. My car had only 49K miles on it, so the original shocks would not be considered worn out.
The first thing I noticed was that the ride height increased by a third to maybe half an inch. It has settled slightly since then, but is still higher than it had been. After driving the car the first time, the ride was definitely firmer, but that there was a much larger improvement in handling than there was a deterioration in ride quality.
I do HPDE with the car and the first thing I noticed was that the car tracked flatter through the turns. The car wallowed over the gators before and wanted to let them "steer" the wheels. Now you get a firm thud when you hit them but the car doesn't want to change course. The car is much more stable when coming to the bottom of a hill and turning like Hogpen at VIR.
This isn't a cheap alternative to coilovers and adjustable sway bars, but it's a great budget mod at less than $550 for everything including an alignment.
The first thing I noticed was that the ride height increased by a third to maybe half an inch. It has settled slightly since then, but is still higher than it had been. After driving the car the first time, the ride was definitely firmer, but that there was a much larger improvement in handling than there was a deterioration in ride quality.
I do HPDE with the car and the first thing I noticed was that the car tracked flatter through the turns. The car wallowed over the gators before and wanted to let them "steer" the wheels. Now you get a firm thud when you hit them but the car doesn't want to change course. The car is much more stable when coming to the bottom of a hill and turning like Hogpen at VIR.
This isn't a cheap alternative to coilovers and adjustable sway bars, but it's a great budget mod at less than $550 for everything including an alignment.
#12
Le Mans Master
This guy hasn't clue what he's talking about.
The changes you're making are inexpensive, easy to do and will improve you handiling immensely. I have done it to all three of my C-5s (I still have two of them). Your car will feel like it's on rails, although the ride will become a bit more harsh on rough surfaces.
The toal cost, if you DIY, is less than $400. There are two bolts per bushing mount (8 total) 2 bolts on each end link (8 total) and that's it.
Shocks replacement proceedure is well documneted here on the forum (4 hours max) two hours if you've done it before and take a 45 minute break....
If you don't take the A arms loose when you replace the shocks (use the tie wrap solution) you won't need an alignment.
The changes you're making are inexpensive, easy to do and will improve you handiling immensely. I have done it to all three of my C-5s (I still have two of them). Your car will feel like it's on rails, although the ride will become a bit more harsh on rough surfaces.
The toal cost, if you DIY, is less than $400. There are two bolts per bushing mount (8 total) 2 bolts on each end link (8 total) and that's it.
Shocks replacement proceedure is well documneted here on the forum (4 hours max) two hours if you've done it before and take a 45 minute break....
If you don't take the A arms loose when you replace the shocks (use the tie wrap solution) you won't need an alignment.
Last edited by Phanni; 01-05-2013 at 07:42 AM.
#13
Drifting
I did this years ago. Switched from base C5 shocks and sways with plastic end links to C6 ZO6 shocks and C6z51 sways with metal end links. Also put on C5ZO6 rims and new toyo tires. This mod really connects the car to the road and to me was a huge difference in handling. Do it and you wont regret it.
#14
Safety Car
This guy hasn't clue what he's talking about.
The changes you're making are inexpensive, easy to do and will improve you handiling immensely. I have done it to all three of my C-5s (I still have two of them). Your car will feel like it's on rails, although the ride will become a bit more harsh on rough surfaces.
The toal cost, if you DIY, is less than $400. There are two bolts per bushing mount (8 total) 2 bolts on each end link (8 total) and that's it.
Shocks replacement proceedure is well documneted here on the forum (4 hours max) two hours if you've done it before and take a 45 minute break....
If you don't take the A arms loose when you replace the shocks (use the tie wrap solution) you won't need an alignment.
The changes you're making are inexpensive, easy to do and will improve you handiling immensely. I have done it to all three of my C-5s (I still have two of them). Your car will feel like it's on rails, although the ride will become a bit more harsh on rough surfaces.
The toal cost, if you DIY, is less than $400. There are two bolts per bushing mount (8 total) 2 bolts on each end link (8 total) and that's it.
Shocks replacement proceedure is well documneted here on the forum (4 hours max) two hours if you've done it before and take a 45 minute break....
If you don't take the A arms loose when you replace the shocks (use the tie wrap solution) you won't need an alignment.
#15
Le Mans Master
I didn't say mine sat any higher. I said the ride would be a bit harsher on rough pavement.
#16
Instructor
Thread Starter
Member Since: Nov 2012
Location: Honolulu Hawaii
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm currently running a 285/30/19 rear tire but that will change later this year. I currently have Blistiens HD up front and sports in the rear. I have no idea how long they have been on the car. They don't appear to be new.
#17
Team Owner
Changed over to that set up a few years back. Noticeable improvement over stock C5. Went to coil overs a couple of years ago and it was like night and day.
#18
Melting Slicks
I did this years ago. Switched from base C5 shocks and sways with plastic end links to C6 ZO6 shocks and C6z51 sways with metal end links. Also put on C5ZO6 rims and new toyo tires. This mod really connects the car to the road and to me was a huge difference in handling. Do it and you wont regret it.
#19
Advanced
Member Since: Feb 2012
Location: Four Seasons Missouri
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have a 2000 frc that had the original z51 package, the front sway bar is as stiff as you can get before a T1 setup, but I did put the c6 Z06 rear bar in and changed my rear leaf spring to a c5 z06 spring since it was stiffer. I did some reading on the forum and from what I could tell the c6 z06 shocks are pretty harsh for street driving, I had a pair of slightly used pfadt adjustable shocks presented to me fro a good price so I installed those. I run a 295 street tire and a Nitto NT01 315 tire for autox/hpde. The combination noticeably helped keep the rear end in line, I would definetly suggest an alignment no matter what you do (look on pfadt's website for specs). I like that I can adjust the shocks for sure. Goodluck
#20
Intermediate
There's a certain freeway transition curve nearby that has 2 bumpseams(where 2 large concrete sections join, for lack of a better term):
before -with the base I can feel the body wanting to break away when running over the bumpseams, very loose.
after - its so much tighter running over the bumpseams, more confidence.
Granted the shocks are still the same, I'm just planning ahead for c/o's.